Meditation for Sunday June 28, 2015 written by Tabugbo Uzoma

Meditation for Sunday June 28, 2015 published in the Cathedral Church of St Peter Bishopscourt Asaba bulletin.

MAKE GOOD USE OF YOUR TIME
An Anonymous quotation says “In time, take time while time doth last, for time is no time when time is past.” I wonder how people use the time God has given them. Most people at their death bed will actually regret their inability to maximize the time God gave them. Then, at their death bed, they will remember that they could have done this or done that. Why waste your precious time in gossips? Why waste your precious time pursuing frivolities? Why waste your precious time chasing shadows instead of realities? Why waste precious time on things that cannot pay your bills? Why waste your precious time on your couch watching television as if you can’t do without it?

The time you think you don’t have is enough to help in humanitarian services whereby you will contribute in shaping and bringing happiness to some people. It could as well be use to affect some lives positively through the services you render. Also, that time could be engaged in worthy pursuits like writing books for posterity, visiting the needy and poor, and visiting the sick in the hospital. It could be used in doing voluntary works that can impact on the society at large.    

As Christians, we should know that every human being is accountable for the time God has given to him/her. Have you ever wondered why God kept you alive till date? God created time and gave it to us. It is God’s fundamental gift, for all other gifts He has conditioned upon it. Have you ever wonder why you did not die after that protracted illness? Have you ever wondered why God saved you in that terrible accident? It is because you still have something to do in this life that will be beneficial to someone else. He did not keep you alive because you must eat food and lazy away your time.

Therefore dearly beloved, let us learn how to maximize the time we have. A day will come when we will want to do some of these things, then our strength and health will fail us. A time will come when we can no longer move those legs, hand and body. Do not reach your death bed and start regretting that you did not inspire anyone with the abundant talent God endowed you with. Use them now that you have the time before you will start regretting. The regret is not in this life alone but in the life to come. Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus, how he regretted in the place of torment. Time waits for no one. Time is on infinite movement and has no single moment to rest. There is nothing like pause with time. Once it has eluded you, you cannot bring it back again.

Tabugbo Uzoma
Cathedral Priest

IT PAYS TO BE HUMBLE

IT PAYS TO BE HUMBLE

Humility in simple terms is a right estimate of our lives the way God sees us.  My desire since February 11, 1990, when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour has been to make heaven by becoming more and more like Christ. That is why I love this quotation made by Henry in Quotations in Power Bible Online. It says, “Those that are truly desirous to be owned and accepted by God will likewise desire not to be taken notice of nor applauded by men.” Humility is one of the virtues a Christian should develop and a prerequisite for greatness as Christ taught us. This has been my watchword. Thus I am not comfortable when people try to give me titles even the ones that rightfully belong to me.

On Saturday June 27, 2015, we went to Agbor and met heavy rain.  We were going to an Orphanage. On the way, out car sank in a sandy place under the heavy flood. The brother driving was confused. There were loads inside the vehicle and we were four persons inside the car then. Me and the young man sitting at the back with me pulled our shoes, folded our trousers and came down. As we were contemplating on what to do, the car was sinking the more. Immediately, a thought came to me that I should use bare hands to remove the sand behind the tyres for the vehicle to enable it go back. I did it and ask the brother driving to go back. He tried it and the car moved. We didn’t continue because the road was too bad and we went back to see the proprietor in his personal house.

While we were going, I was still on bare foot with trouser and singlet only. When we got to the Proprietor’s house, after our effort to go back to the Orphanage failed, I was the first to go to the car to offload the items we brought for the Orphanage. The Proprietor was surprised the way I was carrying things. At the end, we left for Asaba. I took over the steering wheel and drove back to Asaba on my singlet alone. It was when I pulled for the first person to alight that I wore my shirt again.  

When I woke up this morning, I saw this post in the wall of one of the groups I belong to in Facebook. It reads, “No be small waka. I saw Christ in real life yesterday. The Rev. Canon of a Big Cathedral pulled his shoes and shirt and used his bare hands to dig up silt from under my tires inside the heavy rains to enable my car move from the spot where it sank. Rev. Can. Morgan may the God Lord whom you serve continue to bless you and make you and your family a testimony to many generations to come.” It was posted by the brother who owns the care we used. As if that was not enough, the lady we went to Agbor with us, told me Sunday evening that the Proprietor of that Orphanage called her and specifically requested that she should send his warm regards to me for the maturity and servitude I displayed when we came to see him.

What I did is naturally part of me. That was the reason it was quick for me to do it in Agbor. If I have not been used to it, I wouldn’t subscribe to doing it so quickly. However, the act has taught me a lesson that if one desires regard from men, he should humble himself to allow others to exalt him. Again, if you are a leader, you must show the leadership traits and qualities in you by the example you give. My Mentor, Robin Sharma says that one does not need a title to lead. Of four of us that went on that journey plus another brother who later joined us to push the care, I am the oldest among them. I didn’t pose to start commanding or issuing orders. Rather I set the pace which encouraged them. When we met Sunday evening, the perception they have about me changed and they we commending me for such act.

Brothers and sisters, it pays to be humble. Don’t show off just because you want people to respect you. Of all the five of us that came back together, I am the least educated. Two of them are lawyers. Outside the fact that I am a priest, which ordinarily, attracts respect, I didn’t use that. I preferred to humble myself for people to understand that I am a priest. Therefore, do not try to force people to respect you. Give yourself respect by first humbling yourself and others will willingly give you your due respect. Remember respect is earned.

Your friend, Tabugbo Uzoma.                          

Food for Thought

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Don't let the unwillingness of people around you to change their "BAD CHARACTER/ATTITUDE" send you to hell through your incessant complaints. If the person has refused to change, push him aside and live your life. Remember that everybody CANNOT AND WILL NEVER behave the way you wanted them to. Therefore, be yourself and allow others to be themselves.

APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE

APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE

I decided to stay till today to say THANK YOU to all who celebrated my birthday with me. Few seconds ago some were still sending belated birthday wishes and prayers. It was amazing as I received over 200 birthday wishes on Facebook, 30 on WhatsApp, 54 text messages, 20 phone calls, 1 message on Instagram, one on Twoo , one on Google+ and  numerous gifts in cash and kind.
All these were evidences of your love and magnanimity towards me. These were a big encouragement and challenge for me. Encouragement in the sense that I now know that people love me this much and follow what I do here on Facebook. On the other hand the praises showered on me is a challenge to sustain what I do and even do better. I THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING IN MY JOY AND ADDING COLOURS TO MY DAY (31ST MAY) through your visits,  calls, messages, gifts, etc.
I have every reason to celebrate every day I see because I have died several times and I am alive today. I have undergone major operations 8 times between 2004 and 2010. I have undergone minor operations over 200 times. I can't remember how many times my BP crashed to zero while on dialysis. How many can I count? God loves me so much and you all love me too despite my shortcomings and weaknesses.
I want single out some few persons who made that day thick.
1. My dad who brought gift item
2. My mother in law who also brought gift items for me
3. My mother who was the first to call me on 31st May at 5am to say Happy birthday
4. My wife, Chy Adajesu (Prisca Uzoma) who spent time to prepare my cakes and other snacks.
5. Prince Chukwujindu EjikemePrince who posted birthday wishes and prayers for me on every social medium he belongs advertising my Facebook pages.
6. Sis Flora Ifeoma Okoroafor who also "embarrassed" me with so many posts in so many social media.
7. My sweet in law,  Eche Ruth
8. My siblings, Joyce Uchechukwu Molokwu, Ethel Nwosa, Isaac Chukwuka
Favour Okringbo, Loveth Nwohiri,  Tobechukwu Prosper Molokwu Molokwu Sylvester,  Jasper Jb ,
9. Sir & Lady Israel Okwudarue
10. Sir Onyebuchi & Lady  Chinwe Chilaka
11. Miss Okonkwo Chinyere
12. Mummy Mercy Awolo
13. Ven Samson Anwar a
14.  Rev'd Ottah Emmanuel Chukwudi and wife
15. Mr Lawrence & Mrs Amaka Uzomah
16. Charity Omonigho
Etc.
My prayer for all who celebrated is that God will bless all of you. Those are married, your spouses will love you the more. Those waiting, God will give you spouses that will love you till death. God bless you all and prosper all you do in Jesus name THANK YOU ALL.